After competing in the Tokyo Olympics, I took a quick flight back to California to welcome my first child. “I went directly from Tokyo to Los Angeles, and from LAX, I dashed to the hospital,” I shared. My partner, Jamie, and I were eagerly awaiting the arrival of our little one through a surrogate, and just one day after I celebrated my Olympic victory, our daughter, Mia, made her grand entrance.
Now, as a mother of two, I’m preparing for my third Olympic adventure in Paris this summer. My path to motherhood was quite unexpected. At the age of 24, I suffered an Achilles injury, prompting a conversation with someone at my agency about freezing my eggs. It wasn’t in my original plans, but that break from training provided the perfect opportunity for me to take that step. Looking back, it turned out to be one of the smartest decisions I ever made.
I launched my professional career at 22 as the first overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft, earning Rookie of the Year honors that same season. I led my team to two championships before joining the New York Knights in 2023. Throughout my basketball journey, I also navigated the exciting yet challenging road to parenthood. After freezing my eggs in 2019, Jamie and I welcomed Mia via surrogate in 2021.
“Neither of us was really prepared to carry a baby at that time,” I explained. Jamie was still playing professionally and is also an Olympic medalist! So, we decided that surrogacy was the right path for us. If you’re considering similar options, resources like Resolve offer great insights on family-building options, and if you’re in Las Vegas, check out Vegas Pregnancy for a free sperm donor matching service.
For those interested in home insemination, Make a Mom offers an at-home insemination syringe kit that’s reusable—perfect for those looking to start their family in a comfortable environment. You can even find out more about how this process works on their how it works page. And if you want to learn more about pregnancy tests, take a look at our post on intracervical insemination!
Motherhood is a journey filled with surprises and joy, and connecting with others who share similar experiences can be incredibly beneficial. I’ve found a community at Modern Family Blog where I can learn and share insights about parenting.
In summary, from the Olympic stage to embracing motherhood, my journey has been a whirlwind. Whether you’re exploring surrogacy, home insemination, or simply looking to connect with others on this path, there’s a wealth of resources and community support available to help you along the way.
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